At the Family Health Clinic, we’re focused on helping our community heal in as many ways as possible. This includes helping those who suffer from addiction. One way we’re assisting those with addiction is by offering Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for those with alcohol dependence and/or opioid addiction.
If you know someone who is struggling with addiction, you’ll want to learn more about Medication-Assisted Treatment below.
What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
As described by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), MAT is “the use of medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders and prevent opioid overdose.” Medication-Assisted Treatment is primarily used to treat addiction to opioids such as heroin and types of prescription pain relievers, but it can also be used for alcohol use disorder and cigarette smoking.
The benefit of MAT is that it provides a holistic approach to treating severe substance use disorders, more commonly known as addiction. A holistic approach means that the program looks to treat the whole person, including their physical, mental, and emotional health and even social factors.
The medications that are used in MAT help to “normalize brain chemistry, block the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids, relieve physiological cravings, and normalize body functions without the negative effects of the abused drug” (SAMHSA). In addition to the prescribed medication, patients receive additional medical help, counseling, education, and other assessment and treatment services.
MAT at the Family Health Clinic
While the core of a MAT program is the same – a “whole-person” approach to addiction – there are a few different options for medications and treatment.
At the Family Health Clinic, we use Vivitrol as the medication in our MAT program which is the newest approach to treatment. This is an injectable version of a medication called Naltrexone. For our MAT program, two things must happen before a patient is given Vivitrol. First, they must agree to a holistic approach to treatment which includes behavioral health services and medication. Patients must also be abstaining for a minimum of 24 hours from their drug before they can be given Vivitrol and cannot use again during treatment.
For our medication-assisted treatment program, we’ve brought in Dr. Deep Battu, Director of Valley Oaks Delphi, to provide behavioral health services for this program specifically. Dr. Battu is a psychologist who specializes in substance abuse and addiction therapy as well as mental health counseling.
A Misconception about Medication-Assisted Treatment
One of the biggest misconceptions about MAT is that it substitutes one drug for another. In reality, medication is just one part of MAT’s approach to treating addiction and substance abuse, and the medication plays a vital role in the process. Research shows that medications used in MAT have no adverse effects on a person’s mental capability, physical function, or employability when provided at the proper dose (SAMHSA).
Learn more about Medication-Assisted Treatment from one of our providers.
If you or someone you know is ready to learn more about the Family Health Clinic’s MAT program, call (800) 321-5043 extension 2022 to speak to a behavioral health counselor. If you would like to schedule an appointment call 800-321-5043 and request an appointment with Debra Perkins.
